The need for international cooperation on the sea in the current context of Vietnam

The need for international cooperation on the sea comes first from the reality in the region. As we all know, the East Sea is the place that blocks many sea routes that have the most important strategic and economic roles in the world, with rich natural resources and is the source of livelihood for millions of people in the region.

The Vietnam Coast Guard delegation visited the rescue equipment of the Japan Coast Guard on the patrol ship Tosa. Photo: Lam Giang - Duc Hanh

However, it is an undeniable fact that the East Sea is currently facing many traditional and non-traditional security challenges that are of concern to countries in the region in particular and the international community in general. Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu emphasized: The East Sea is an area with many disagreements and disputes over territorial and maritime sovereignty that are diverse, complex, difficult to resolve and have lasted for decades. The East Sea is also facing many non-traditional maritime security challenges such as climate change, marine pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, criminal activities at sea such as illegal immigration, human trafficking at sea, terrorism and piracy... threatening regional order and security, seriously affecting sustainable development and the interests of countries in and outside the region. Responding thoroughly and effectively to these challenges requires coordinated action by countries at different levels, bilaterally, regionally and globally, through harmonizing maritime activities and addressing transboundary issues of the seas and oceans. Vietnam's promotion of international cooperation on the sea also stems from Vietnam's obligations under international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Stemming from the perception that "issues of the marine space are closely related to each other and need to be considered comprehensively", UNCLOS explicitly or implicitly stipulates the obligation to cooperate in various fields, from the conservation and management of marine living resources, environmental protection, marine scientific research, to dealing with crimes at sea, or in handling undelimited sea areas, etc. After 42 years of adoption and 30 years of coming into force, the role of UNCLOS has been increasingly affirmed and promoted as the legal framework for all activities at sea and oceans, and the legal basis for all actions and cooperation at the national, regional and global levels. This has been affirmed in the annual Resolutions on Oceans and the Law of the Sea of the United Nations./.

Thanh Tung